Then there are all the discount-drug cards backed by drugmakers, private groups and even governments.

"We have patients that come in with them like a deck of cards and say, 'Do any of these help me?' " said Tiffani Bruce, a Walgreens spokeswoman.

Patient advocates recommend that consumers shop around because one card could save them more than another.

"The important thing is that people understand what options are available and explore what drugs there are and what works for them," said Jeff Biehl, executive director of Access HealthColumbus.

This week, area residents have two more choices -- the Ohio Drug Card, backed by a private company; and the Franklin County Prescription Discount Card, backed by Franklin County commissioners.

Consumers with either card can go online to check medication prices and find participating pharmacies. The Ohio Drug Card is available online, while the county card is available at area churches, county offices, senior centers and other locations.

These cards differ from Ohio's Best Rx card, which is designed for low-income residents.

Kevin Wolowiec, a pharmacist at a Walgreens in the Ohio State University Medical Center, said customers have brought in as many as nine cards.

He said he runs each through his computer.

"To me, it's not a waste of time," he said. "I'm willing to try whatever they bring in."

These cards won't save you money if your insurance has good prescription coverage, but they will help the uninsured, the underinsured, those with high deductibles and Medicare recipients who lose drug coverage.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation,

$200.7 billion was spent on prescription drugs in the United States in 2005.

Experts say there will be more of these cards and warn that consumers should make sure that the issuing companies are not selling personal information.

"Whenever I hear about these cards I suggest that people go in with their eyes open," said William Winsley, executive director of the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy. "You should always know what's happening to your information."